138 MEDIEVAL HISTORY 



look for the coming half-century. It is a great epoch in the history 

 of any science when it begins to see in clear detail the road which 

 it must follow to the not distant goal not to the knowledge 

 of every fact, but to the completion of its most important task. It 

 should be to every traveler on the way a broadening and inspiring 

 vision. 



SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERS 



A short paper was contributed to this Section by Professor Earl W. Dow, of the 

 University of Michigan, and Secretary of the Section, on "The Early Commune 

 and the Local Secular Law at Beauvais," in which the story of the suit of the 

 canons at Beauvais was set forth in a new and attractive form and much light 

 thrown upon the ecclesiastical laws of the age. Supplementary to this was an 

 interesting discussion of the development of the Commune at Beauvais and the 

 local statutes governing its administration. 



A short paper was also presented before this Section by Professor N. M. Tren- 

 holme, of the University of Missouri, entitled, "A Communication Relative to 

 the English Monastic Towns." The paper discussed briefly the establishment 

 under monastic control during the early Middle Ages of a number of important 

 towns usually attached to some of the greater Be'ne'dictine abbeys, with special 

 privileges and immunities confirmed by charters or gifts. The origin of these 

 towns, the conflicts between ecclesiastical and lay authorities, and the laws 

 governing these special privileges were clearly and forcibly set forth. 



